The pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, on Sunday asked the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra to jettison their current agitation for the Republic of Biafra.
The forum cautioned the agitators against dragging the country into another “bout of Civil War.”
The issue of Biafra, according to the northern body, had been settled 45 years ago after the brutal Civil War in which over two million Nigerians died.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammadu Ibrahim, in a statement in Kaduna noted that it was most sad and unfortunate that 45 years after Nigerians ended the war and resolved to unite for the nation’s progress, “some people are instigating innocent youths to stage irresponsible protest.”
The forum called on Igbo youths and all Nigerians to channel their energy into useful venture rather than allow themselves to be used for futile agitation.
The statement read in part, “The meeting noted with serious concern the continued spate of protests by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra in the South-East and South-South states agitating for a Biafra Republic. The issue of Biafra was settled in 1970 after the Civil War.
“It is therefore sad and unfortunate that 45 years after, when Nigerians are now united in a democratic system of governance, some elements are now busy instigating innocent youths in the south-eastern states to an irresponsible protest, which in most cases have degenerated into violence with serious consequences on the lives and property of innocent and law-abiding Nigerians.
“ACF once more calls upon the Igbo youth and indeed other Nigerians to channel their energy, resources, talent and time into useful ventures that will promote unity and development rather than allow themselves to be used for such a futile agitation.”
The forum also commended the intervention of some elder statesmen from the North and South in dousing the tension created by the “unwarranted protest.”
“ACF also commends the efforts of some governors, traditional rulers and elder statesmen both from the North and the South for their intervention to douse the tension created by this unwarranteed protest that could have some ripple effects in other parts of the country,” it added.
The forum also expressed concern on the alarming rate of kidnapping of innocent persons for ransom by some unknown gunmen in various parts of the country and urged the security agencies to redouble their efforts in arresting the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice.
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